“Geology tells the history of us and of the earth….The more we can experience the earth, the better we can live our lives here.” These were among the welcoming remarks offered by Dr. Joanne Kluessendorf, Director of the Weis Earth Science Museum at UW-Fox Valley in Menasha, where we held an opening reception for a new exhibit that is accessible to individuals who have vision loss.

Touching the Earth is a collaboration between the Wisconsin Council of the Blind & Visually Impaired and the Weis Earth Science Museum, made possible in part by funding from the Wisconsin Humanities Council and U S Venture, Inc. The new exhibit features tactile displays that include Braille and large-print signage and descriptions.

Reception guests were able to handle a variety of rocks, fossils, maps and minerals and learn about the earth’s geology, including specifics about Wisconsin.

Dr. Kluessendorf is so excited about this project (“I’ve become an evangelist about this,” she remarked) that she would like to see the exhibit travel around the state, and she hopes that “…more tactile exhibits can be used in teaching geology and other subjects.

This exhibit will be on display at the Weis Earth Science Museum until late spring 2014.